best mods for under $1000

[@thomasvancil]

Im finally starting to put money into my e82 and I really can't decide what I want to do. I already have little things like a K&N air filter but I have a budget of a grand and Im interested into hearing you guys thoughts about the best bang for your buck mods.

Thanks

[1and1]

Honestly it depends on what you want to do, where your interests lay...
Handling/suspension/brakes?
Go Fast stuff like tuning/intake and exhaust mods?

We can happily spend many thousands of your dollars

(don't mind my ninja edit... missed that OP's a 128, not a 135~)

[desertman123]

Check out my build thread, it's all relatively budget oriented

[@thomasvancil]

Originally Posted by 1and1

Honestly it depends on what you want to do, where your interests lay...
Handling/suspension/brakes?
Go Fast stuff like tuning/intake and exhaust mods?

We can happily spend many thousands of your dollars

(don't mind my ninja edit... missed that OP's a 128, not a 135~)

honestly I wanna make as much power as I can squeeze out of the n52 engine, so mainly engine and exhaust mods.

[1and1]

Not sure of the total cost, but...
3 Stage intake manifold- random example- https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1404732

Exhaust - AA Headers - random example - https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1556993

Tune to get full benefit of the above - Several, will leave to the 128 crowd to provide best examples...

[Tuxedo]

Best bang for me is this ZHP shift knob I ordered custom made to match oem number plate $117 without the ///M. $87 standard with ///M from ECS/Turner. Car shifts completely different worth every penny and more!

2nd Bang 1M/M3 TRW control arms about $330 when I did the new shocks and struts

[chris_flies]

LSD with 3.73 gearing. Best mod I ever made to the car, next to subframe bushings. Makes it feel like a real sports car.

[02Pilot]

If you want to make power, please make sure you've got the brakes and suspension to handle it. Frankly, power should be the last thing you upgrade.

The best value IMO is to spend that money on a track school. Value is retained 100% when you sell, unlike pretty much anything else you might do with it.

[markslc1]

Get a 1m replica front bumper and get it painted. Totally transforms the car into something a man would drive. If you dont like the 1M, at least at 135 bumper. The 128's are all weak on the front-end look.

its the best mod, since I now enjoy looking at the car.

[Dogeeseegod]

+1 on LSD. Every bimmer needs one

[rowsdower]

Originally Posted by markslc1

Get a 1m replica front bumper and get it painted. Totally transforms the car into something a man would drive. If you dont like the 1M, at least at 135 bumper. The 128's are all weak on the front-end look.

its the best mod, since I now enjoy looking at the car.

Looks like it's dipping

OP figure out what you don't like about the car and change it. Throwing an arbitrary amount of money into arbitrary upgrades is poor financial decision making.

[Taskmaster]

Originally Posted by @thomasvancil

Im finally starting to put money into my e82 and I really can't decide what I want to do. I already have little things like a K&N air filter but I have a budget of a grand and Im interested into hearing you guys thoughts about the best bang for your buck mods.

Thanks

3 stage intake manifold, MILVs, tune.

For suspension, probably a front swaybar and sticky tires

ZHP shift knob was amazing...

[The Wind Breezes]

Best mod for under $1000 is a little unconventional but I think you can handle it. Want to go fast, right? Then the best mod for under $1000 is the hassle and inconvenience of selling your car and buying a N54 / N55 1 series for around the same price.

[@thomasvancil]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Best mod for under $1000 is a little unconventional but I think you can handle it. Want to go fast, right? Then the best mod for under $1000 is the hassle and inconvenience of selling your car and buying a N54 / N55 1 series for around the same price.

Thats no fun..

[Dogeeseegod]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

Best mod for under $1000 is a little unconventional but I think you can handle it. Want to go fast, right? Then the best mod for under $1000 is the hassle and inconvenience of selling your car and buying a N54 / N55 1 series for around the same price.

Then you can spend your hard earned $1k on repairs and maintenance until you want your 128i back lol

[mack128i]

Start from the engine, just get you a tune and a sealed cold air intake...make sure it's sealed to fight heat sink...that'll a easily help you spend your 1k budget. you'll be happy with the results.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by @thomasvancil

Im finally starting to put money into my e82 and I really can't decide what I want to do. I already have little things like a K&N air filter but I have a budget of a grand and Im interested into hearing you guys thoughts about the best bang for your buck mods.

Thanks

The answer is simple if you have an N51 engine, get it tuned! That right there will give you more power than almost all other bolt-ons put together and it won't cost you $1k.

[Thunderguts]

Originally Posted by Tuxedo

Best bang for me is this ZHP shift knob I ordered custom made to match oem number plate $117 without the ///M. $87 standard with ///M from ECS/Turner. Car shifts completely different worth every penny and more!

WTH!?!? I just installed the ZHP knob yesterday and it actually does make a noticeable difference. Other than changing my gearbox fluid, this is the most cost effective mod I've made.

I have the M short shift kit and I think the ZHP knob is slightly longer than the one that comes in the kit which gives me a little more leverage and less throw effort. The knob that came in the kit is also pretty heavily weighted so that's not a factor, but if you were running a stock knob, the weighting of the ZHP would make throws seem smoother.

Good call!